Four years ago we decided we needed to be more proactive during our summer reading program in reaching our youngest participants’ parents about ECRR. Here at Allen County Public Library we use time reading, and we develop gameboards for participants to mark off squares after they have read for 20 minutes.

To include “Smart Start Activities” based on the 6 pre-reading skills we substituted for “Read 20 minutes” a square that read “Do a Smart Start Activity.” We directed them to a page that included different activities for each of the 6 pre-reading skills for each of the 3 age levels. Once they had done an activity they could then mark off that square. If you would like a .pdf of this booklet or gameboard let me know your email address. (I have tried uploading it, but the system will not accept a .pdf form.)

This was/is a simple way to get the message out to each of our pre-readers’ parents. Plus it has increased our participation of pre-readers.
--Nancy 10:24, 15 December 2006 (CST)